Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi has advised doctors of the Cochlear Implant Group of India (CIGI) to engage the larger society and volunteers in their efforts to combat deafness in the country. During the inauguration of CIGICON 2023, CIGI’s 20th national conference, he emphasized the importance of harnessing the energy and goodwill of the people, citing the success of volunteer networks in programs like “Nikshay Mitra” for tuberculosis elimination.
The Governor lauded CIGI’s two-decade-long efforts to increase access to cochlear implants for those in need and suggested that achieving a deafness-free India was feasible with the participation of volunteers.
He also highlighted the need for universal screening of newborns for deafness as early interventions are more effective. CIGICON 2023 focuses on advancements in addressing hearing impairment and cochlear implants, with a commitment to improving patient outcomes and ethical standards in healthcare.